Driver helps Immigration personnel to arrest alleged human trafficker

Personnel of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) at Sogakope on April 20 this year, rescued two teenage girls allegedly being trafficked from Aflao to Accra by a Nigerian.

This was made possible when the driver of the bus on which the girls were travelling with the trafficker became suspicious and alerted the GIS officials. The girls were named as Sena Afisu and Vera Maabla Ampomah both aged 15.

The suspect, named as Patrick Ezeh, 28, was said to be resident in Lome.

Mr Emmanuel Odonkor, Aflao District Police Commander told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that the victims who lived with their parents in Aflao, did not know the suspect until about 0600 hours on April 20 when they met at a tea vending spot near the Customs barracks in Aflao.

He said Ezeh engaged the girls in a conversation and proposed to employ them in his music shop in Accra but the girls declined the offer.

Mr Odonkor said as the girls were about to leave the spot, Ezeh invited them for a ride on a mini bus to their destination along the way; unknown to the girls the bus was Accra bound.

Mr Odonkor said when the girls requested to alight at their junction, Ezeh insisted that they should accompany him on a return journey to Accra.

He said the girls fell asleep until they were awakened by the GIS officials at Sogakope but Eze insisted that they were going to Accra on their own.

Mr Odonkor said Ezeh had since been put before an Aflao Circuit Court where he was remanded into police custody and later granted a Gh¢3,000 bail.

He pleaded not guilty to human trafficking and would reappear in court on May 9.**